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Zero to Finals Surgery
The Zero to Finals books are designed to be studied from cover to cover in preparation for your exams. I have removed the waffle and focused on the essential information you need for exams. I have added helpful “Tom Tips” from over a decade of sitting medical exams to highlight frequently tested facts and help you score those extra marks.
The focus is on learning the concepts, vocabulary and latest guidelines, so you take the fastest route to exam success and proficiency as a new doctor.
The Zero to Finals surgery book is full of high-density factual information in black and white, designed to be easy to follow and learn. It contains simple illustrations to help you understand key topics.
The other Zero to Finals resources can be found on the website. These support the books with notes, illustrations, audio, video and questions on the same content.
The focus is on learning the concepts, vocabulary and latest guidelines, so you take the fastest route to exam success and proficiency as a new doctor.
The Zero to Finals surgery book is full of high-density factual information in black and white, designed to be easy to follow and learn. It contains simple illustrations to help you understand key topics.
The other Zero to Finals resources can be found on the website. These support the books with notes, illustrations, audio, video and questions on the same content.
337 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2021
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 8, 2025
✨ Zero to Finals Surgery — My Honest Take
I picked up Zero to Finals Surgery because I love the idea of cutting through noise and going straight to the essentials. In many ways, it delivers exactly that: a clean, high-yield overview of surgical principles, guidelines, and core topics. The tone is approachable, the “TOM TIPs” are clever memory hooks, and the format works beautifully for quick revision. I especially appreciate having both print and audiobook — it’s the kind of resource you can dip into on commutes or between clinics.
But it’s not a book to build your whole surgical foundation on. The content is intentionally streamlined, and you can feel the trade-off: fewer differentials, less pathophysiology, fewer edge cases. For exams or practice settings that demand deep nuance, you’ll need to pair it with something heavier (Bailey & Love, Sabiston, or institutional notes).
Another thing to know — most of what’s in the book lives on the Zero to Finals website. If you’re happy studying online, the added value of the physical book is more about format and convenience than new content.
Who it’s best for:
Students or early-career doctors who want a revision companion after they’ve done their main studying.
People who prefer concise summaries to dense textbooks.
Commuters or multitaskers who will actually use the audiobook.
Who it’s not enough for:
Anyone needing comprehensive surgical depth.
Those who want a stand-alone resource for exams with complex or rare scenarios.
My verdict:
A smart, well-designed tool for clarity and quick recall — but not the whole journey. I’ll keep it on my desk for last-minute refreshers and on my phone for audiobook catch-ups, while still leaning on deeper texts and question banks for mastery.
— Phoenix Perpetuale 🕊️🔥
I picked up Zero to Finals Surgery because I love the idea of cutting through noise and going straight to the essentials. In many ways, it delivers exactly that: a clean, high-yield overview of surgical principles, guidelines, and core topics. The tone is approachable, the “TOM TIPs” are clever memory hooks, and the format works beautifully for quick revision. I especially appreciate having both print and audiobook — it’s the kind of resource you can dip into on commutes or between clinics.
But it’s not a book to build your whole surgical foundation on. The content is intentionally streamlined, and you can feel the trade-off: fewer differentials, less pathophysiology, fewer edge cases. For exams or practice settings that demand deep nuance, you’ll need to pair it with something heavier (Bailey & Love, Sabiston, or institutional notes).
Another thing to know — most of what’s in the book lives on the Zero to Finals website. If you’re happy studying online, the added value of the physical book is more about format and convenience than new content.
Who it’s best for:
Students or early-career doctors who want a revision companion after they’ve done their main studying.
People who prefer concise summaries to dense textbooks.
Commuters or multitaskers who will actually use the audiobook.
Who it’s not enough for:
Anyone needing comprehensive surgical depth.
Those who want a stand-alone resource for exams with complex or rare scenarios.
My verdict:
A smart, well-designed tool for clarity and quick recall — but not the whole journey. I’ll keep it on my desk for last-minute refreshers and on my phone for audiobook catch-ups, while still leaning on deeper texts and question banks for mastery.
— Phoenix Perpetuale 🕊️🔥
Displaying 1 of 1 review